People come and people go but a great movement goes on forever
–Chris Sinckler
Tonight at Passage Road the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) launched their 56 page Manifesto 2008, Pathways to Progress.
Irene Sandiford-Garner speaks on the lack of governance and financial accountability. See some notes jotted while various speakers spoke:
Governance and Financial Accountability
- EDUTEC – $400 million
- GEMS – $300 million
- Highway Project – $200 million
- Publications of agreement by government
- Adhere to ruled regarding parliamentary questions
- Press Briefings
- Constituency Offices to manage $100,000 stipends to manage
miscellaneous affairs to decentralize government - Integrity Legislation – declaration of assets by all parliamentarians
- Rationalize powers of the Prime Minister
- Vote on limiting prime Minister to two terms if elected
Haynesly Benn reports as the man selected to slay Owen Arthur in St. Peter
- Prime Minister Owen Arthur canvassing harder than in previous years according to Benn
- Reports of fights between BLPites over the co-leader statement made by Arthur with chairs being thrown around
- Land ownership is too important to leave to market forces: DLP will implement a policy to provide 500 lots in 5 months for first time homeowners. Other lots will be provided to other would be homeowners. Removal of VAT from houses value up to $400,000
- Abolishment of user fees for Barbadian patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Implement Rescue QEH Plan
- Increase trained personnel
- Construction of new Accident and Emergency wing
- Expand Asthma Bay
- Upgrade Geriatric Hospital
- 24 hour opening of selected Polyclinics
Reform of Educational System
- Convene a forum to discuss relevance of current education system
- Review school age
- Co-education
- Teacher recruitment
- Use of school property, should not be closed at 3 PM
- School Security
- Expand textbook loan scheme for primary school students
- Include family life, civics, sport, art on the school curriculum
- Facilitate slow learners
- Raise school leaving age to 18 years
- Subsidize amenities fee at UWI
- Resources available for counseling to improve families and delinquent parents
Employment Related Policies
- Reopening of Services Commission
- Create environment for self-employment
- Policy to manage immigration
- Increase investment in training of the workforce
- Assist entrepreneurs with research and marketing
- Reserve government work for small enterprises
Chris Sinckler, the MC for the night assured Barbadians that no one Minister will be able to change water zones and similar decisions. DLP will encourage competition in the distribution sector to drive down prices; re-examine tariff regulating all goods entering Barbados. Selected price controls to implement on a basket of goods.
Financial Policies Delivered by David Estwick
- Restore balance and prudence to monetary and fiscal policy
- Slow down the approach to Capital Account liberalization
Spoke at length about current ‘spending spree’ on government projects given the increasing National Debt over 2 billion. Tourism Development exhausted. DLP will roll-out proposals to transform the economy to generate other avenues for foreign exchange.
The notes are not exhaustive and BU visitors can feel free to fill the gaps.
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